The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Date: Sep 12 2006
Major: Fine Arts - Painting/Sculpture/Photography/etc (This Major's Salary over time)
I received my BFA in Film at UWM and I think it is a great program. The professors and even the TA's are always willing to help and meet with you, and while I had some bad experiences with them, I would say 85% were great, fantastic even. Equally fantastic were the professors and the TA's in the Film Studies department. With all that being said, the experience you have in this school, or any other, is entirely in your hands, and you are definitely required to be extremely self-motivated. With many of the film production classes, you get a short amount of time to make a whole film/video - do no procrastinate! Always have a few ideas before the start of every semester because then you will have full access to equipment and critique time in class. Take full advantage of every opportunity, including workshops, seminars, conferences, visiting artists (we've had some tremendous ones), career center, fin aid office (even though it is one of the worst places to go to), advisors, etc., no matter how fruitless it seems. Now that I'm out of school, I wish I would have taken better advantage.

The film program is very experimental, and while many students try to make standard narratives, they tend to get frustrated quickly and you'll hear them complaining bitterly and dropping out. BUT - if your ideas are good and you work hard at executing them, then it doesn't matter what style your films/videos are. The professors try to get your ideas out, they are on your side, even if it doesn't feel like it all the time.

The campus itself is kinda ugly, but compact, which is great during the winter. Milwaukee is growing to be very cosmopolitan, and there is always stuff to do. The Union Cinema has great, superb films every semester. I've met a lot of great people here. Open your mind up to experimental film and you'll forever impress people with your knowledge of Maya Deren or Bruce Bailie (my personal favorite). The student body of the department has doubled since I started there, so they must be doing something well. The equipment is so-so, but you learn digital stuff like Final Cut and also basic 16mm film, and every filmmaker should start at the most basic. There's opportunities to learn more advanced stuff, and make sure you do! Once you graduate, you won't get these opportunities! Since it is a small department, you get to know everyone and it is nice to be part of a community.

I enjoyed my time at UWM, and again, I'll stress that no matter which school you decide to attend, the experience is what you make it.